Jharkhand assembly disrupted again over domicile policy

The Jharkhand assembly witnessed disruptions for the second consecutive day on Wednesday over the opposition demand for a domicile policy in the state.

When the house assembled at 11 a.m., leader of the opposition Hemant Soren said the domicile issue was a big one for the state and demanded the government should bring a legislation without delay.

He called for extension of the assembly budget session, if the government was willing to take a concrete decision on the domicile issue.

Labour Minister Raj Paliwar accused the opposition Jharkhand Mukti Morcha of misleading the people on the issue.

"Whenever the JMM is in power, it forgets about the 'moolvasis' and the 'adivasis' and is worried only about 'mudra niti'," he said.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Saryu Rai said that the opposition should listen to the government reply on the issue. "The house has been held hostage for the last three days by the opposition over the domicile issue, which is condemnable," Rai said.

He said that the government was serious and the process was already underway to formulate the domicile policy and it will be announced soon.

He again repeated the government stand that the opposition should submit written suggestions to help it formulate the policy.

As the opposition members trooped into the assembly well shouting slogans, the house was adjourned by Speaker Dinesh Oraon till noon. When the house re-assembled, a similar situation forced the speaker to adjourn the house till 2 p.m.